Make Room For A Roomful Of Blues.

October 02, 2012|Kayla Pongrac | Our Town Correspondent

Johnstown — The Grammy-nominated, Rhode Island-based band is scheduled to perform at People's Natural Gas Park Sept. 28 as part of the park's "Summer Concert Series" sponsored by Johnstown Area Heritage Association.

Legendary musician Count Basie once described Roomful of Blues as "the hottest blues band I've ever heard."

The band combines horn-heavy swing with rock 'n' roll, blues and soul. Since 1967, they have been recognized in the music industry through various awards and nominations, including Best Blues Band of the Year in 2005 and Best Blues Band by Down Beat International Critics Poll.

Last year, they won a Boston Music Award for being chosen as the city's Best Blues Band.

Led by guitarist Chris Vachon, the band features tenor and alto saxophonist Rich Lataille, who happens to be the only remaining member from the original lineup.

Vachon and Lataille are joined by vocalist Phil Pemberton, bassist John Turner, drummer Ephraim Lowell, keyboardist Travis Colby and baritone and tenor saxophonist Mark Earley. It is said that over 50 musicians have played in the band over the past 40 years.

Their relentless tour schedule has given way to playing with many musical greats: B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana are among them. In addition to spending over 40 years on the road in America, they have also toured abroad in Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey and Russia.

In between touring, they have also found time to record 18 studio albums, in addition to releasing two live albums and two compilation albums. Their latest studio album, "Hook, Line and Sinker," was released by Alligator Records in 2011.

The band's official website is www.roomful.com.

Tickets, which cost $15 per person, can be purchased at www.floodcitymusic.com. JAHA members are eligible for a 15 percent discount. The concert begins at 7 p.m. and it is an all-ages show.

More information can be obtained by calling a JAHA staff member at 814-539-1889.